Hi, my name is Sarah, I am a first-year radiography student at Lansing Community college. I did a presentation on C-arms. I will discuss what C-arms are, who uses them and the importance of them in radiology.
November 27, 2022
November 27, 2022
Hi, my name is Sarah, I am a first-year radiography student at Lansing Community college. I did a presentation on C-arms. I will discuss what C-arms are, who uses them and the importance of them in radiology.
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MaKenzie Lytle
November 30, 2022 — 4:33 pm
Sarah,
It’s great that you picked C-arms as your modality of choice because they are used frequently throughout the radiology department. Their accessibility to be moved and used anywhere is excellent! Throughout the last three weeks, while attending clinical, I have observed the countless exams in which C-arms are used and have found it fascinating. While listening to your presentation, you mentioned all the different reasons why C-arms are used but are all patients under anesthesia? Another advantage of using a C-arm is that physicians can request that images be taken in real-time, helping them achieve success throughout the procedure. Do you know how the image is generated into a video? Technology has advanced quite a bit, and it’s fascinating that healthcare professionals can see what they’re doing or if they are doing the right thing then and there in the OR. So far, I am aware of all the benefits of using a C-arm, but should patients or healthcare professionals be concerned when using this equipment (such as side effects)?
C-arms are super cool, and I’ll be interested in learning how to use this equipment while attending clinical in the spring. It’s great that there are different sizes of C-arms, and hopefully, I’ll be able to see all the ones you listed in your presentation. Unfortunately, it was made clear that C-arms are mainly used in surgery, and the OR doesn’t seem to be of first interest to me. Upon graduation, I would like to work in an outpatient facility so I won’t be getting my hands on this equipment a lot. What type of facility would you like to work in after graduation? Could you see yourself using C-arms all day? Overall, great job with your presentation. It was very informative.
Sarah Sandborn
December 1, 2022 — 5:39 pm
Hi Makenzie,
Thank-you for watching my presentation, I am happy that you enjoyed it!!
To answer your questions, Not all patients are under general anesthesia while using C-arms, for therapeutic use such as hip injections (cortisone shots) a c-arm is used for correct placement of the injection and the patient is awake.
For how the image is generated onto the monitor, x-ray photons pass thru the patient into the input phosphor layer of the image detector and converts them to light photons. These light photons pass thru a series of electron lenses that amplify the light signal or “intensifies” the light before passing thru the output phosphor. The output phosphor is coupled to a camera where the image is projected onto the monitor. Basically the light photons are processed by computer algorithms to produce an image projected on the monitor.
Unfortunately using a c-arm exposes the technologist and patient to higher radiation exposure because you are in close proximity to the equipment to complete a scan, scatter radiation is the biggest contributor to overall exposure.
I along with you, am not interested in being in the OR or surgery using c-arm technology. Upon graduation I would like to work in sports medicine. I have also become interested in C.T after observing this modality at my clinical site.
Thank-you again for your interest and great questions,
Sarah
Sarah Sandborn
December 2, 2022 — 6:18 am
Hi MaKenzie,
Thank -you for listening to my presentation. I am happy you enjoyed it!
To answer your questions, there are some procedures that do not require the patient to be under general anesthesia when using a c-arm, therapeutic use, such as hip injections (cortisone shot), the c-arm is used for correct needle placement for the injection, the patient is awake for this procedure.
How an image is produced on the monitor starts with x-ray photons passing through the patient into the input phosphor layer of the image intensifier and converts them to light photons. These light photons pass through a series of electron lenses that amplify the light signal before passing thru the output phosphor, which is coupled to a camera where the image is projected on a monitor in the room.
Unfortunately, use of C-arms results in high radiation exposure because of the proximity to the equipment to complete a scan. The main contributor is scatter radiation.
I like you do not have any interest in being in the O.R or surgery, so I do not see myself using c-arms after I graduate. I would like to work in a sports medicine clinic, also after my clinical observation days I have become interested in C.T.
Thank you again for interest in my presentation!
Sarah
Taryn Clapsaddle
December 1, 2022 — 1:42 pm
Sarah,
I am very impressed by your presentation. As we know, see arms are use very frequently in surgeries so I like how you did a deep dive with it. I like that you brought that before 1955 there was no such thing as a c-arm. I didn’t know who created the first one so that was very surprising to me. I do like that your brought up how the c-arm usage. I did not know how much c-arms are used for so many different things, it is very interesting.
I really like how you brought up with fluoroscope that we have to use time distance and shielding. A few questions I have for you. With how much they are used do you think that they could become even more high quality and get more detail? Would you want to work with different kinds of C-arms like minis or even larger C-arms more? Would you want to work with the c-arm in a hospital or in a small family practice?
Sarah Sandborn
December 1, 2022 — 5:01 pm
Hello Taryn,
Thank-you for watching my presentation, I am happy you enjoyed it!!
To answer your questions, Yes I do believe that the x-ray technology in C-arms will advance and produce higher quality and more detailed images in the future.
I do not see myself interested in working with C-arms, because they are primarily used in surgery and that is not an environment I would enjoy working in. If I had to choose between a hospital or a small ortho clinic, I would defiantly choose a small ortho clinic or small out-patient facility over a hospital.
Thank-you for questions,
Sarah
Bailey Myers
December 1, 2022 — 11:29 pm
Hi Sarah,
I enjoyed hearing about the history of the c-arm. It is interesting to see just how much they are used during regular days at the hospital rather than just for surgeries. it is interesting how much you need to know to be able to use the C-arm in surgery rather than just a regular x-ray. What are some of the dimensions of the c- arm sizes? The scatter radiation is something to watch out for when using the C-arm. Great presentation!
Sarah Sandborn
December 2, 2022 — 7:26 am
Hi MaKenzie,
Thank -you for listening to my presentation. I am happy you enjoyed it!
To answer your questions, there are some procedures that do not require the patient to be under general anesthesia when using a c-arm, therapeutic use, such as hip injections (cortisone shot), the c-arm is used for correct needle placement for the injection, the patient is awake for this procedure.
How an image is produced on the monitor starts with x-ray photons passing through the patient into the input phosphor layer of the image intensifier and converts them to light photons. These light photons pass through a series of electron lenses that amplify the light signal before passing thru the output phosphor, which is coupled to a camera where the image is projected on a monitor in the room.
Unfortunately, use of C-arms results in high radiation exposure because of the proximity to the equipment to complete a scan. The main contributor is scatter radiation.
I like you do not have any interest in being in the O.R or surgery, so I do not see myself using c-arms after I graduate. I would like to work in a sports medicine clinic, also after my clinical observation days I have become interested in C.T.
Thank you again for interest in my presentation!
Sarah
Tammy DePottey
December 4, 2022 — 7:04 pm
Hi Sarah,
Lot’s of great information on the different types of C-Arms used in medical imaging. It is very interesting that Phillips manufactured the first C-Arm back in 1955 and they are still very popular and dependable mobile flouroscopy unit used today. You did a very nice job explaining the important role the technologist plays with the C-Arm in the Operating Room. I liked how you pointed out the high occupational radiation exposure emitted from these units and how important it is to practice the three cardinal rules of ALARA. It is exciting to read that you are seeing new modalities at your clinical site and are also gaining new interests for special modalities after graduation. Very nice and informative.